In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 217 new COVID-19 cases, 388 new recoveries,
four new deaths. Of the new cases, 212 are locally transmitted: 101 from Lilongwe, 40 from Blantyre, 15 each from Mzimba North and Salima, six from Mchinji, four from Mulanje, three each from Kasungu, Mzimba South, and Ntcheu, two each from Balaka, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Mwanza, Neno, Nkhotakota, and Neno, and one each from Chitipa, Dowa, Likoma, Machinga, Nkhata Bay, Ntchisi, Rumphi, and Thyolo Districts. Five of the new cases are imported and are recent arrivals at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District. In the past 24 hours, four new COVID-19 deaths have been registered: three from Lilongwe and one from Rumphi Districts. To the bereaved families, may you find peace, hope and love during these difficult times. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.Please take note of the adjustment to the cumulative totals of the positive cases, deaths andnumber of tests conducted. The additionals are from Mzimba North Health District and were registered from 3rd to 17th February 2021: 223 cases that were identified from 2,273 tests, nine deaths, and 205 recoveries.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 30,277 cases including 997 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.3%). Of these cases, 2,027 are imported infections and 28,250 are locally transmitted.
Cumulatively, 16,251 cases have now recovered, 134 were lost to follow-up, and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome. This brings the total number of active cases to 12,819. In the past 24 hours, 18 cases were hospitalised while 13 were discharged. Currently, a total of 123 active cases are hospitalised: 30 in Lilongwe, 27 in Blantyre, 17 in Mzimba North, 10 in Thyolo, six from Karonga, five each in Zomba and Ntcheu, four in Salima, three each in Mchinji, Chitipa, and Chiradzulu, two in Rumphi, and one each in Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Dowa, Machinga, Balaka, Chikwawa, Mulanje, and Nsanje Districts. On testing, in the past 24 hours, 1,374 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 564 tests were through SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR. The positive cases out of the total translates to a positivity rate of 15.8%. Cumulatively, 179,795 tests have been
conducted in the country so far.
Today, the data indicates that the recoveries has surpassed the 16,000 mark and we have
noticed a decrease in the total number of admissions in the treatment units, this is giving hope in the fight against COVID-19. The positive trends should not make us relax in adhering to the preventive measures but we should push on to reduce the spread further.
As we prepare for the school re-opening on Monday, the 22nd February, let me emphasize the need for us to work with unity to ensure continuity of education for our kids. As parents and guardians for our wards, we need to ensure that we are strictly following the COVID-19
preventive measures so as to limit and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. If we
reduce further the spread, we can be assured that our childrenβs education will not be disrupted again due to the rise in the number of cases. Let me clarify that the testing of students prior to return to school is not compulsory for all government and private schools but the district health and education authorities, working with the schools, will arrange screening during the first week.
Let me encourage each one of us to make the COVID-19 preventive measures our daily routine: frequent hand washing with soap, proper wearing of mask, avoiding over-crowded places, practicing cough and sneeze etiquette, staying home if you have flu like symptoms and decontaminating commonly touched surfaces.
Watch your distance! Wash your hands! Wear your mask! Seek for care early upon
development of symptoms of COVID-19. Call toll free 929.
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP
MINISTER OF HEALTH
CO-CHAIRPERSON β PRESIDENTIAL TASKFORCE